Hi I'm Philip Newey, author and editor. Here are some thoughts, ideas and other nonsense. I may, at times, express some views that offend some readers. I make no apologies for that. Read on at your own risk. Be sure to also visit my writer's page: http://philipnewey.com. I also run a manuscript services business called All-read-E: http://philipnewey.com/All-read-E.htm

Australia's first Muslim Federal
frontbencher has shrugged off a backlash on social media against him for being
sworn in on the Koran, saying though some of the reaction was extreme, people
were entitled to ask questions.

Dozens of abusive and racist messages were
posted on the Facebook page of Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister
and for Broadband Ed Husic, accusing him of undermining the Constitution and
being un-Australian.

One user said they were: "Totally
disgusted!! Sharia law next on your agenda is it?"

Another posted: "Swore to serve
Australia using the same book terrorists do to serve al-Qaida . . .
Disgusting."

Another said: "You swore an oath on a
book that tells people to kill non-Muslims. Does that mean you condone me being
killed?"

Mr Husic, the son of Bosnian migrants, said the criticism was a part of democracy. He said his decision had been straightforward. "I couldn't obviously take my oath on a Bible," he said. "I am who I am." Governor-General Quentin Bryce said at Monday's ceremony it was "a wonderful day for multiculturalism".

Mr Husic doesn’t ‘look
like’ a Muslim. Imagine the reaction if he did! I don’t know who those people
were, who adopted such a despicable and intolerant attitude. I hope that there
are many more, like the Governor-General, who welcome this as a wonderful day.
There are narrow and intolerant people on all sides of politics and within all
religious traditions. I am perversely rather glad that this event stirred up some
of the detritus that lurks at the bottom of the pond. It can help to remind us that,
despite the illusion that we perpetuate about Australia as a tolerant and open
society, there remains this grimy underbelly of intolerance, xenophobia and
even hatred. It does not take much to stir up this hatred, be it directed
against Muslims, the Gay community or the desperate people who try to reach our
shores on unseaworthy vessels.

Personally I would
like to thank Mr Husic for demonstrating that Muslims can happily participate
in our democratic form of society. I would like to wish him and all Muslims in
Australia well for this month of Ramadan.